Mitchell Starc claimed 6-72, his 20th five-wicket haul, as South Africa collapsed from 203-1 to 329 all out on day one of the decisive third and final Test against Australia at Newlands.
The Proteas were 192-1 at drinks in the second session after Australia won the toss and chose to bowl. Marques Ackerman had made 95 off 94 balls, a career-best score.
Aiden Markram scored 78 and David Bedingham made 50 before the middle order collapsed. Starc’s figures of 6-72 are his best against South Africa in Tests, and they turned the innings around for Australia.
Ackerman and Markram put on a century stand
Australia made four changes to their side, dropping opener Nic Maddinson and losing veteran Steve Smith to injury. Markram and Ackerman still added 140 by lunch, and the hosts looked well set.
Ackerman fell for 95, stumped off Nathan Lyon after charging down the pitch to the off-spinner. He hit 12 fours and two sixes in his innings and fell short of a maiden Test century. Markram, who had been dropped off Starc in the morning session, added 45 with Bedingham as South Africa moved to 203-1. Starc then took a stunning catch at square leg to dismiss Markram off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood.
Australia strike in a rapid collapse
Lyon bowled skipper Temba Bavuma for a three-ball duck. Left-arm spinner Cooper Connolly then claimed his maiden Test wicket, trapping Matthew Breetzke lbw for two.
Starc removed Bedingham after tea and had Wiaan Mulder caught behind two balls later for a duck. South Africa lost five wickets for just 29 runs before Marco Jansen and Ryan Rickelton stemmed the tide.
Jansen made a second successive half-century, 52, and Rickelton scored 42. The pair added 95 for the seventh wicket, but Starc struck again with the second new ball to tear through the tail. He had Rickelton lbw in the 81st over and, two balls later, bowled Jansen. He then claimed four wickets in six balls, bowling Gerald Coetzee for a golden duck and removing Kagiso Rabada for another nought.
South Africa slumped from 327-6 to 329 all out, handing the momentum back to Australia. The visitors won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs, before the hosts were beaten by an innings and 31 runs in the second Test in Gqeberha. Day two is on Wednesday.